OTHERS > Swimming legend Spitz favors Phelps over Lochte

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

While the swimming world is counting down for a show-off between the sport’s best performers, legendary athlete Mark Spitz believes Michael Phelps will have an edge over Ryan Lochte. Spitz makes the statement in Istanbul, where he visits as a guest for the 24th edition of the Intercontinental Bosphorus Race

US swimming great Mark Spitz is in Istanbul for the Intercontinental Bosphorus Race. Spitz will perform an exhibition swim in the Bosphorus on July 14, one day before the race. During his press conference members of Galatasaray masters swimming team presented a towel with Spitz’s name on it and thanked him ‘for being an inspiration.’

Spitz says the rivalry will help both athletes raise their game and some records may be set in London. “When you have competition it puts more pressure on the athlete and therefore the performance level goes up,” Spitz said. “If they didn’t have that kind of competition, it would be basically an exhibition.” Phelps’ eight gold medals in Beijing put him alongside the greatest names in sports, but Lochte is a rising star and is likely to add to his six medals. The race to win more medals will be also crucial for Phelps, as the swimming superstar has called the London Games as his swansong. However, Spitz says there is a good chance that Phelps may make a return in the future.

“For me, it was different. I had to retire to make money. Now that the rules have changed, athletes can make big money and still compete in the Olympic Games,” Spitz said. “[Phelps] is 27 and I think he has such a high level of expectations every time he gets in the water that he’s supposed to win all those medals. Could he compete four years from now, at the age of 31? Sure. Does he want to? He’s told everybody ‘No.’ Could he change his mind? Probably.”

Spitz believes that having the “spirit of a champion” will not allow Phelps to quit easily.

“I wouldn’t say that he is out totally. I would say he will probably disappear for a year or two; he decides he wants to compete in one or two events and take a little bit lesser program,” Spitz said. “Once you are a champion, you always have that spirit that wants to win. That will never leave him. Even after 40 years, I still like to get in the water and swim and challenge myself and swim at a level to be competitive with [Phelps]. I know that’s impossible, but do I dream of this? Yeah, of course. And that you can never take away from a person. I respect that he’s going to retire, but I wouldn’t put all my money on it.”

Spitz was in Istanbul for the Intercontinental Bosphorus Race. The legendary athlete will perform an exhibition swim in the Bosphorus on July 14, one day before 1,200 swimmers race “from Asia to Europe.”

“I hope it’s not too cold,” Spitz laughs. “I am going to have a good time. I’m not going to stay there for very long – maybe 15 minutes.”